Global Refuge Receives Grant from Texas Bar Foundation to Combat Immigration Scams Targeting Afghan Nationals

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 30, 2026

San Antonio, TX — Global Refuge, one of the nation’s largest nonprofits serving refugees and other immigrants, has received a grant from the Texas Bar Foundation to support a new initiative aimed at preventing Afghan nationals in Texas from falling prey to immigration scams and the unauthorized practice of law.

Since its inception in 1965, the Texas Bar Foundation has awarded more than $30 million in grants to law-related programs. Supported by members of the State Bar of Texas, the Texas Bar Foundation is the nation's largest charitably-funded bar foundation.

The grant will fund the development of an educational video designed to help Afghan community members understand the risks of fraudulent legal services, recognize common scam tactics, and identify safe, legitimate pathways for legal assistance. The project will focus on empowering individuals to safeguard their immigration status and avoid exploitation during a particularly vulnerable period of resettlement and legal uncertainty.

“This generous support from the Texas Bar Foundation will allow us to meet a critical and growing need in Afghan communities across Texas,” said Jill Marie Bussey, Director for Legal Affairs at Global Refuge. “Too often, Afghan allies and their families who have already endured trauma and displacement are further harmed by bad actors posing as immigration experts. This initiative is about helping protect people from exploitation, preserving their resources and protecting their legal status to the extent possible given recent policy changes. Access to qualified Legal Services Providers is critical to ensuring Afghan allies have accurate, trustworthy information at a time when it matters most.”

Afghan nationals who arrived in the United States in recent years frequently face complex legal processes related to securing Special Immigration Visa status, seeking asylum and green cards as refugees, Temporary Protected Status, and other humanitarian pathways. Language barriers, misinformation, and limited access to affordable licensed legal providers can make them particularly susceptible to fraud and the unauthorized practice of law.

Global Refuge will work in close partnership with local Texas-based community organizations, service providers, and legal advocates to distribute materials and ensure they are culturally and linguistically appropriate.

“By equipping both Afghan allies that have chosen Texas as their home and the frontline organizations that serve them with accessible resources, we’re strengthening the entire ecosystem of support,” added Bussey. “This is a powerful example of how legal institutions and humanitarian organizations can collaborate to promote justice and protect vulnerable communities.”

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About Global Refuge:
Global Refuge, formerly Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service, is the largest faith-based nonprofit dedicated exclusively to serving refugee children and families. For 85 years, we have welcomed those seeking refuge, upholding a legacy of compassion and grace for people in crisis. We walk alongside individuals, families, and children as they begin their new lives in the United States through our work in refugee resettlement, economic empowerment and employment, and family unification for unaccompanied children. Since our founding in 1939, we have served over 800,000 people from around the globe.